ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale is a well-known crusader in the fight against pediatric cancer. Now he’s trying to throw his weight behind another worthwhile endeavor—seeing the renewal of the Kentucky-Indiana basketball rivalry.

Vitale tells WDRB’s Rick Bozich that he made three calls Wednesday—two to Wildcats coach John Calipari and one to Hoosiers coach Tom Crean—leaving impassioned messages for them to resuscitate this rivalry by offering an additional carat—the game would help raise $250,000 to help fight pediatric cancer.

Calipari does not want to play the series in a home-and-home context, citing the court-storming that occurred after the Dec. 2011 game, where the Wildcats had difficulty leaving the floor in the wake of the Hoosier hysteria. Rather, he wants to play the game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Indiana has countered with playing two games at Lucas Oil, then a home-and-home series over a four-year stretch.

Neither has budged from their viewpoint.

"And two people are controlling that decision—Tom Crean and John Calipari—I love them both,” Vitale told Bozich. “Have the game happen. I've left messages for them. It's only good for the game. Think about the game of basketball that's been good to you, Tom and good to you, John.

"Now you've got to give back and sometimes eat a little pride. So you make a trip to Bloomington. You make a trip to Rupp. Big deal. Play the other two at the Hoosier Dome (Lucas Oil Stadium). And then make a nice donation to the V Foundation to help kids battling cancer."